Through My Lens (Part Two)
When I revisit the music videos I have been part of, I remember much more than the finished songs. I remember the people who stood beside me, the characters I stepped into, the long rehearsals, the unexpected changes, and the little moments that never made it into the final cut.
In the first part of Through My Lens, I wrote about what these experiences have taught me as an artist. This time, I want to take you into the projects themselves. Some found audiences far beyond what we expected; others didn't get the attention we had hoped for. But each has a story worth telling. These are a few of my favorite memories, the decisions behind them, and the lessons I carry forward.
Kalo Keshma Relimai
Four people, one idea, and a camera on the move
Views: 24M Released: 2021 Channel: OSR Digital
It began with a simple thought: a beautiful folk song by Dinesh Dhakal, one of my close relatives, deserved a story of its own. The idea stayed with us for months before we finally decided to bring it to life. There were just four of us at the heart of it: Dinesh, who created the song; Manav Subedi, who took on the storytelling and filmmaking; Rajan, who supported the creative planning and logistics; and me, performing on camera and helping with the connections needed to get the video out into the world.
We did not have a conventional film crew or a carefully controlled set. We filmed in a spontaneous, almost guerrilla style, working with what was happening around us. We danced with people in open fields, met faces along the hills, traveled on a scooter, and carried much of our shooting equipment ourselves. Even my makeup was something I handled on my own. Looking back, that rawness is exactly what made the experience special.
Reaching a distributor was another challenge. With support from someone I had worked with previously, we were able to present the video to OSR. Seeing the song connect with so many listeners was a remarkable feeling. What started as a small idea became a reminder that limited resources do not have to limit imagination—especially when the right people believe in the same story.
What I learned: Authenticity can be a creative strength, not a compromise.
Aayo Cheli Maiti Samjhera
The joy, energy, and togetherness of Teej
Views: 24M Released: 2020 Channel: RT Entertainment (aired on Gazzab TV)
Teej holds a special place in Nepali culture. For many women, it is a time for music, dance, connection, and celebration, alongside personal and family traditions that can include fasting. Being part of a Teej music video gave me a chance to celebrate that energy on screen.
Director Saroj Oli offered me the opportunity to perform in a project featuring singers Eleena Chauhan, Rachana Rimal, and Samikshya Adhikari. We rehearsed together, laughed together, and shared the kind of behind-the-scenes moments that stay with you longer than the tiring parts of a shoot. One memory I especially cherish is an informal singing session with the girls. Hearing them sing and harmonize so naturally was beautiful.
The shoot itself demanded plenty of dancing, repeated takes, and energy from everyone. It was exhausting in the best possible way. What stays with me now is not only the performance but the sense of friendship and celebration surrounding it. I still feel happy knowing I got to be part of a song that people return to during Teej.
What I learned: The chemistry between people off camera can be just as memorable as the performance on camera.
Timra Yaad Haru
Finding elegance in a ghazal
Views: 3.8M Released: December 3, 2021 Channel: Thaneshwor Gautam Official
I came to Timra Yaad Haru through a recommendation from someone who believed I could bring the right emotion and expression to the song. Meeting and working with ghazal singer Thaneshwor Gautam was a privilege. I still remember being asked whether I listened to ghazals. I said yes—I enjoy many kinds of music—and hearing the song in his voice made me realize how carefully the performance needed to be approached.
I felt that classical movement, elegance, and subtle expression could make the story more meaningful. I rehearsed for two days before filming, though the musical details and rhythms were challenging enough to make that time feel short. Once we were on set, the performance began to fall into place.
This project looked very different from Kalo Keshma Relimai. Instead of doing my own simple makeup in natural locations, I found myself in a beautifully lit setting with elaborate styling, costumes, and a full hair and makeup team. Director and choreographer Ramji Lamichhane gave me room to contribute my own expressions and interpret the emotions of the song. That trust helped me give more of myself to the performance.
What I learned: Preparation matters, but the freedom to interpret a character can bring a performance to life.
Maya Naujale
From a village tea-shop girl to a bass guitarist
Views: 949K+ Released: 2023 Channel: MusicSpark
After Kalo Keshma Relimai, working on another project connected to Dinesh Dhakal felt exciting—and a little intimidating. There were expectations to live up to, but this time the character was completely different. Instead of the simple village girl I had portrayed before, I appeared as a bass guitarist with curly hair, bold colored lenses, and an entirely new attitude.
The project brought us together with a creative team led by dancer and director Pradeep. We trusted the concept, even though not every idea we had imagined could be achieved within the resources available. I enjoyed exploring the more playful side of the character and finding a different kind of confidence on camera.
Someone even messaged me afterward to ask whether I really played the bass guitar. I smiled at that question—it was acting, but perhaps the illusion worked! I still love the look we created, the hook steps, and especially the children who brought so much life to the video. For me, this was a reminder that experimenting with a completely new character is part of the joy of being an artist.
What I learned: Taking a creative risk helps me discover sides of myself I have not performed before.
Baimani
A project especially close to my heart
Views: 952K Released: June 18, 2025 Channel: Beest Productions
Baimani is different from many of the other music videos in my journey because it began with something I helped create from the inside. Inspired by a deeply personal chapter of my life, I worked on the song with composer Kushal Singh Neil. It was my second experience writing and composing a song, and bringing those feelings into a finished production meant so much to me.
As the idea grew, so did the ambition. I dreamed of collaborating with Sabin, someone whose performances had inspired me since I was younger and dancing on stage myself. Watching that collaboration become possible was incredibly meaningful. I am also grateful to Sartak and to my fiancé, Milam Katwal, whose support helped the project take shape.
The production demanded more money, coordination, and energy than we expected, and some setbacks made the process particularly difficult. Even so, I do not want those challenges to define the memory. What I remember most is how much I believed in the song, how hard everyone worked, and the happiness of finally sharing something that had once existed only as an idea in my heart.
What I learned: The projects we care about most can test us the most—and still be worth every effort.
Chokha Lagana
Learning to perform beyond familiar words
Views: 1.7M Released: July 3, 2019 Channel: Chakra Bam (official)
Chokha Lagana introduced me to the vibrant energy of a Doteli song. Some of its regional words and expressions were unfamiliar to me, which made the experience both exciting and challenging. I was learning how to communicate the feeling of the music through expression, movement, and the story on screen.
Working with Chakra Bam made the entire process lively. I remember the quirky expressions, energetic dancing, and creative freedom we had on set. One of my favorite memories is a rain scene that was not part of the original plan. Instead of resisting the change in weather, we played with it—and the moment turned out beautifully.
The song went on to connect with a large audience, but the experience I remember most vividly is how much fun we had creating it. Sometimes the scenes that look the most natural are the ones nobody planned in advance.
What I learned: Spontaneity can turn an unexpected situation into a memorable scene.
Sora Barse Umer
An early project filled with cinematic energy
Views: 272,006 Released: January 11, 2019 Channel: Tmaya Rai (official)
Sora Barse Umer takes me back to an earlier stage of my career, when I was still finding my place as a performer. I loved the bold styling, the dancing, and the cinematic feeling of the video, which reminded me of the expressive musical sequences in older Nepali films.
The project featured Chakra Bam and a song sung by Indira Joshi. We filmed at Sukute Beach, where the setting, wardrobe, makeup, and choreography came together in a way I genuinely enjoyed. I was able to explore a striking look and put a lot of energy into the movement and expressions.
At the same time, I had hoped the project would travel further. Looking back, I wonder whether stronger promotion, different creative decisions, or improvements in the audio presentation might have helped. I cannot know for certain, but that experience changed the way I think about what happens after filming is finished.
What I learned: A strong performance needs strong presentation and promotion to reach its audience.
Hosai Harayo
A fun collaboration and an important creative lesson
A friend introduced me to singer RK Khatri, and that introduction led to Hosai Harayo. I loved the melody, the relaxed energy of the team, and the spontaneous moments that came with filming. RK's commitment to his music was inspiring, and I enjoyed working with the filmmaking team, including Roshik.
Not every part of the final result communicated the story as clearly as we had hoped. When I watched it later, I felt that some scenes could have connected more smoothly and guided the viewer through the emotions of the song. With more planning and promotion, perhaps the video could have reached a wider audience.
I still think of the experience with affection. It taught me that even when filming feels enjoyable and a song sounds beautiful, the visual message needs to remain clear from beginning to end.
What I learned: Good storytelling requires clarity, not only beautiful individual moments.
Yo Dil Ma Dera Banai
A polished look, but lessons beyond the frame
Views: 6,280 Released: September 2, 2021 Channel: Regam Music Hub
I had high hopes for Yo Dil Ma Dera Banai. The concept was filmed in a cinematic style, and I remember feeling especially confident about the elegant, polished look we created. There are images from this project that I still love.
But the result did not connect with viewers in the way I had imagined. In my view, the story needed a clearer direction, while the project itself would have benefited from more creative resources and a stronger promotional plan. A beautiful frame can catch someone's attention, but it takes more than that to hold it.
I have not stopped believing in the song. Part of me still feels that, with a fresh approach and the right support, it could be presented to audiences again. Sometimes a project does not need to be forgotten just because its first release did not go as planned.
What I learned: A promising idea can deserve a second chance, even when the first execution falls short.
Samarpan
Creating something personal on my own channel
Channel: Alka Subedi (own channel)
Samarpan has a special place in my heart because I shared it on my own YouTube channel, hoping it would find its audience. I put so much of myself into this project—not only my performance, but also the planning behind how it would look and feel.
I worked closely with my creative friend Sagar and a supportive production team. I selected the costumes carefully, paid close attention to makeup, and wanted every visual choice to support the mood of the song. That involvement made the project feel especially personal.
It did not receive the reach I had hoped for, but the feedback from people who did see it was encouraging. I am proud of the visuals and the work that went into them. Samarpan reminded me that sharing something independently requires more than making it beautiful; finding and building an audience is its own creative responsibility.
What I learned: Creative ownership is empowering, but distribution deserves the same attention as production.
Kali Tarera
A story that mattered beyond its view count
Views: 116,709 Released: July 28, 2022 Channel: Mahendra Raj Baral (official)
Kali Tarera is one of the projects that reminds me why I love storytelling. The video explored a dramatic story set in an earlier period of Nepal, when a young person's path toward military service and conflict could be shaped by circumstances beyond personal choice. It called for emotion, restraint, and a different kind of seriousness from me.
Sharing the screen with actor Mahesh Tripathi was both exciting and nerve-racking. I admired his work, and I wanted to do justice to the intensity of the story. Under Manav Subedi's direction, we worked through difficult scenes and the pressure of limited time, trying to communicate the characters' emotions honestly.
I would never measure the meaning of this video only by its views. The story, the people involved, and the feelings we hoped to leave with the audience made it valuable to me. Some projects stay with you not because of how widely they spread, but because of what they asked you to feel.
What I learned: Artistic value and audience size are not always the same thing.
Behind the Scenes
A few favorite moments from set
Kalo Keshma Relimai
Samarpan
What I take with me
Looking at these projects together, I see more than a collection of music videos. I see different versions of myself: a village girl, a dancer celebrating Teej, a performer interpreting a ghazal, a confident musician on screen, and characters carrying emotions that were not always easy to express. Every team, location, costume, rehearsal, and unexpected challenge shaped the artist I was becoming.
I have also learned to look beyond the final frame. A song can have a wonderful concept and still struggle to find its audience. Another can grow from a small team and a simple idea into something much bigger. Reach and audience response are worth studying, but they do not tell the whole story. The lesson I keep coming back to is that creativity, planning, collaboration, and visibility all matter—and that none of them replaces the heart we put into the work.
I am grateful for every person who trusted me with a role, supported an idea, or helped make these projects possible. Whether a video reached thousands of people or only a small group, each one gave me something that I carry into the next.
— Alka Subedi
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